HELLO AND WELCOME BACK TO NEWS 8 NOW, I'M TRACY SABOL. MAINE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN MIKE MICHAUD IS MAKING HIS RUN FOR GOVERNOR OFFICIAL. HIS CAMPAIGN SAYS MICHAUD, WHO'D FORMED AN EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE, WILL MAKE A STATEMENT THURSDAY AFTERNOON AT THE FRANCO-AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER IN LEWISTON. MICHAUD IS A FIVE-TERM CONGRESSMAN. MICHAUD HAS ALREADY BEEN RAISING MONEY TO CHALLENGE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR PAUL LEPAGE, WHO'S SEEKING RE- ELECTION. GOVERNORLEPAGE SAYS HE'S NOT SURPRISED BY MICHAUD'S DECISION. "Governor, Congr essman Michaud is expected to formally announce his candidacy for governor tomorrow do you have any reaction or comment on that?" "No, I fully expected it. Frankly when he announced an exploratory committee we knew he was in. No. No surprise there." ALSO IN THE RACE IS INDEPENDENT ELIOT CUTLER WHO WAS NARROWLY BEATEN BY LEPAGE IN 20-10. MICHAUD FACES A PRIMARY CHALLENGE FROM STEVE WOODS OF YARMOUTH. MEANTIME: STATE LAWMAKER EMILY CAIN SAYS SHE WILL RUN FOR MICHAUD'S SEAT IN MAINE'S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. SHE FIRST TALKED ABOUT HER PLANS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND SAYS SHE'LL HAVE AN OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCH EARLY THIS FALL. CAIN SAYS SHE'S IN FULL SUPPORT OF MICHAUD'S GUBERNATORIAL RUN. THREE SKOWHEGAN WOMEN ARE FACING ASSAULT CHARGES AFTER POLICE SAY THEY FORCED THEIR WAY INTO ANOTHER WOMAN'S APARTMENT AND BEAT HER. POLICE SAY BRANDY ST. PIERRE, KRISTINA SANTAMORE AND STACEY ROBINSON GRABBED THE VICTIM BY THE THROAT AND THREW HER UP AGAINST THE WALL. THE VICTIM HAD BRUISES ON HER FACE AND SWELLING. POLICE SAY ONE OF THE WOMAN HAD A BAT AND USED IT TO KEEP THE VICTIM'S MALE FRIEND AWAY. A NEIGHBOR CALLED IN THE DISTURBANCE. POLICE SAY THE THREE WOMEN BELIEVED THE VICTIM HAD STOLEN FROM THEM. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON NEWS-8 NOW. I'M TRACY SABOL. MAKE SURE TO CHECK BACK AT WMTW DOT COM AND OUR MOBILE APP FOR THE TOP STORIES AND WEATHER ANYTIME. HAVE A GREAT